Fruit-picker.



NTE

EPI'IRAIIVI A. ABLElVIAN, OF GI-IEEN, MINN'ESOTA.

FRUIT-PICKER.

Specfication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. '7, 1909.

Application filed June 23, 1909. Serial No. 503,862.

To all whom 'it may concer'n:

Be it known that I, EI'HRAIM A. ABLE- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gheen, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit- Piokers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fruit pickers and has for its object to provide a simply constructed and durable device of this character, which may be readily thrust between the branches of fruit trees so that the fruit may be readily gathered therefrom.

Another object is to provide a fruit picker which comprisesa wire rectangular basket or frame secured to one end of a suitable Operating handle by means of which the same may be easily manipulated.

A further object is to provide a novel means for attaching` the fruit receptacle to the end of the handle so that the same may be readily removed therefrom and another handle secured to the basket frame so that it may be easily carried from place to place.

A still further object is to provide new and novel means secured in one end of the basket by means of which the fruit will be easily detached from the tree and deposited within the same.

VVith these and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar' parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved fruit picker, the lower portion of the handle thereof being broken away. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same, Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the basket. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the basket detached from the Operating handle, and having the carrying handle secured thereto. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the manner of attaching the Operating handle to the receiving basket.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the Operating handle, which may be of any desired length, and has the fruit receiving basket 2 detachably secured to the upper end thereof. The basket 2 comprises the stout wire frame 3, preferably rectangular in form and has secured thereto the wire netting 4. The netting 11 extends entirely around the frame and also covers the bottom thereof. Upon one side, however, the netting does not eXtend entirely to the top of the receiver, so that a short open space 5 will be provided through which the fruit may pass when it is desired to empty the receiver.

At the upper open end of the receiver at one side thereof, the frame wire is formed into a plurality of loops or eyes 6, which are adapted to receive the wire 7 which forms, in effect, the top of the receiver. This wire is Very heavy and is bent between its ends into a plurality of convolutions 8 in which the stem of the fruit is received as will be later described. The extremities of the wire 7 are secured to the frame 3, while the ends of the intermediate looped portion are disposed in the eyes 6.

The convolutions 8 extend from the rear of the receiver frame to the front open portion 5 thereof. Rings 9 are secured to one edge of the frame 3 adjacent to the bottom and top thereof and have a slight Vertical movement, whereby the same will be disposed at a slight inclination to the vertical axis of the handle 1 when the receiver is in position upon the same. The rings 9 are received in notches or recesses 10 in the bar 1, whereby the movement of the receiver 2 will be limited thereon. It will thus be seen that when it is desired to remove the receiver from the handle 1 it must be lifted until the rings are disposed at a right angle to the axis of the Operating handle, when the handle may be withdrawn and entirely disconnected from the frame 3. VVhen the receiver is operatively connected with the handle 1, its weight will be amply suflicient to retain the same in position thereon against any unintentional Vertical movement. After the Operating handle has been removed, a carrying handle 11 may be secured thereto, so that the receiver may be conveniently carried from place to place. This handle has the wires 12 secured to the ends thereof which extend to opposite sides of the frame 3 and are' provided with hooks upon their eXtremities by means of which the same may be readily secured to the frame wires.

In operation the receiver 2 is secured upon the outer end of the Operating handle l, aiid is tlirust betweeii the branches of tlie tree from Wliicli the fruit is to be piclred. The steins of the fruit are engaged in tlie convolutions S of the Wire 7, aiid by imparting a slight sidewise moveineiit or downward pull upon the receiver 2, the fruit Will be easily detaclied froin the branehes Witliout the sliglitest daiiger of injury to the same, aiid deposited witliin the receiver. It Will be seen tliat in this inaiiiier the fruit iiiay be gatliered very quiekly, as a plurality of iiiterstices is provided in whicli the steins iiiay be received. Such a construction is admirably adapted for the picking of clierries and other siiiall fruit which grow in clusters aiid the gatlieriiig of which is eXtremely tedious and tiresome. As the receiver is extremely liglit, it may be rapidly iiioved between the braiiches of the trees wliereby the labor involved in the gathering of the fruit. is inaterially deereased. After the receiving receptacle has been entirely filled, the operating handle may be reinoved therefrom as before described and the handle ll attached to the fraine, so that the gathered fruit may be conveniently carried to tlie place where it is to be emptied.

From the foregoing, it Will be seen that I have provided a fruit picker which is eX- tremely inexpensive in its construction while at the saine time the durability and efficiency of the same have been retained. It will be understood, of course, that tlie construction above described may be applied equally as well to reeeivers of cylindrical or other shapes, with but sliglit variation in the manner of asseinbliiig the several parts. The ease of operatioii and coiivenience in liandling the fruit after the same has been gathered combine to provide a device which is in. every way highly useful and practicable. p

It will be uiiderstood, that Wliere the fruit is easily aecessible, the receiver may be manipulated by means of the carryiiig haiidle 11. Iii order to allow the receiver beiiig inserted between adjacent braiiclies of trees, the reinovable handle l is attaelied at one corner of the frame 3. If desired, howevei', this liaiidle may be attached to the middle of the back of the receiver, opposite to the side which is provided with the upper open portioii 5. By attaching the haiidle to one corner of the frame, the receiver may be easily moved and the fruit gathered iii cases where the trees are extremely busliy and there are many branches. If the receiver Were positioiied at riglit aiigles to the handle, this would be rendered more or less difiicult.

That is elaiined is: I

1. In a fruit pieker, a Wire frame rectaligular iii section liaviiig Wire netting secured to the sides and the bottom thereof, rings secured to oiie edge of said franie, an operatiiig liaiidle extending through said rings, notclies in said liaiidle adapted to receive said rings, loops forined upon the upper eiid of said frame, and a Wire bent upon itself to form a plurality of convolutioiis, one end of each of said convolutions being secured in one of said loops and the extremities of said Wire secured to said frame.

2. In a fruit picker, a Wire frame rectangular in section having Wire nettinfl' secured to the sides and the bottom thei'eot, the nettiiig upon one side of said frame terininating below the upper end of the same and the upper end of the frame being opeii, a plurality of riiigs pivotally secured upon one edge of said frame, an operating liaiidle extendingthrough said rings, i'ecesses foi'med iii said liaiidle to receive said riiigs and limit the dowiiward movement of said frame, a plurality of loops forined oii oiie side of the upper end of said frame, and a wire bent to form a plurality of convolutions, the eX- treiiiities of said Wire being secured to said frame, the intermediate portions of said Wire secured to said loops and extending outwardly over the open end of said receiver.

3. In a fruit picker a receiver rectangular in cross seetioii, a plurality of rings pivotally secured to oiie edge of the i'eeeiver, a iiotched ope 'ating haiidle extending through said rings, said rings being engaged in the notches the rings being iiornially positioned obliquely Witli relation to the longitudiiial axis of the liandle to support the receiver, the upper end of the receiver being open, a Wire bent upon itself to form a. plurality of convolntions and (lisposed iii the opeii end of the receiver, aiid means for securing the extremities of said Wire and one end of each of the convolutions to tlie receiver.

In testimony wliereof I aiiix niy signature, iii presenee of two Witnesses.

EPI-IRAIM A. ABLEMAN.

fitnesses Pa'rn SKRALA, JAcoB SoHUs. 

